Car Safety – Emergency Supplies for your Car

• Car jump starter battery (Amazon)
• Jumper cables – If you already have a jump starter battery, having jumper cables as a backup isn’t a bad idea. (Amazon)
• Car cell phone charger – Make sure you have a charging cable and a power source (your car or a portable battery).
• Map – In case your phone or navigation system doesn’t work, print out a map and directions to your destination.
• Sand or Kitty Litter – For better traction if you’re stuck in mud, sand or snow. Alternatively: Tire chains, traction pads, traction straps (Amazon)
• A Portable Shovel – A shovel the folds or collapses can be kept in your trunk for snow, mud, or sand emergencies. (Amazon)
• Ice Scraper/Snow Brush
• Flares, reflective hazard triangles or LED Rechargeable Emergency Road Flares
• Blanket (And maybe gloves and boots)
• Portable Tire Inflator/Air Compressor (Amazon) – They make air compressors powered by an internal battery, but many people complain the battery gets used up too fast. If you like the idea of battery power, you can use a jump starter battery with a cigarette lighter adapter to power the air compressor. (Make sure it’s the correct type for your jump starter battery.)
• Tire Pressure Gauge – If you don’t have one, you can also just use the gauge on your air compressor.
• Automobile/Truck Fire Extinguisher (Amazon)
• First Aid Kit
• Seat Belt Cutter and Window Hammer Tool (Amazon)
• Water/Snacks
• Flashlight
• Tools – Screwdriver, pliers, pocket knife, etc. (Or an all-in-one multi-tool.)
• Jack & Lug Wrench – They should come with your car, but double-check they’re still there!
• Spare Clothing (including underpants) – Hey, you never know!

If you don’t have a spare tire or run-flat tire:

• Tire Sealant – Such as Fix-a-Flat, Slime or airMan. NOTE: Sealants are a temporary fix to get you to a repair shop. It can be used on small punctures in the tread area of a tire but is not designed for large punctures, sidewall damage, or punctures near the tire’s shoulder. Sealant is also messy and needs to be cleaned out by the mechanic. (Make sure to warn your mechanic!) Sealants can potentially damage your tire pressure monitoring system. Be aware that the pressurized can variety of tire sealants should not be left in your car in hot weather (risk of a rupture and big mess in your trunk!). In high temperatures you might want to go with liquid tire sealants that require the use of an air compressor instead. Learn more about using sealants at Consumer Reports. They like the airMan ResQ Pro + which includes an air compressor in the kit. If you already have an air compressor in your car or truck and want to save money, airMan sells tire repair sealant separately.
• Tire Repair Kit – A punctured flat tire can often be repaired with a tire plug kit, although it’s more work than tire sealant. However, a well done plug can last a long time. (And a drill can make the repair a lot easier.) Some mechanics consider it a “permanent” fix, while others still recommend you get a professional repair.

More Ideas